Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

Panasonic
96 Overall Score
vs
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM 50mm

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM 50mm

Canon
52 Overall Score

What Buyers Say

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

92 out of 100 medium confidence 22 reviews

The Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-35mm f/2.8 lens is widely praised for its excellent optical performance, sturdy yet lightweight build, and fast autofocus. Users highlight its versatility as a workhorse zoom for both photo and video, with particular appreciation for the linear focus mode on compatible cameras. A few note the shallow depth of field is limited due to the Micro Four Thirds system, but overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive.

Pros
  • Excellent optical performance
  • Sturdy yet lightweight build
  • Fast and reliable autofocus
  • Versatile zoom range
  • Linear focus mode for video
Cons
  • Limited shallow depth of field
  • Focus-by-wire system not linear
  • No built-in gear ring for cine use
  • Slight chromatic aberration in high contrast
👍 Optical performance 7
👍 Build quality 6
👍 Autofocus speed 5
👍 Versatility 4
👍 Video features 3
👎 Depth of field 2

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM 50mm

82 out of 100 high confidence 287 reviews

The Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM lens is widely praised for its exceptional value, delivering sharp images and beautiful bokeh at a very low price. Users love its lightweight, compact design and fast f/1.8 aperture for low-light and portrait photography. Common criticisms include noisy and sometimes slow autofocus, a plastic build that feels cheap, and softness at the edges when wide open. Overall, it's considered a must-have budget prime lens for Canon shooters.

Pros
  • Exceptional value for money
  • Sharp image quality
  • Beautiful bokeh
  • Lightweight and compact
  • Fast f/1.8 aperture for low light
Cons
  • Noisy autofocus
  • Slow autofocus at times
  • Plastic build feels cheap
  • Soft edges at f/1.8
  • No image stabilization
👍 Value for money 45
👍 Image quality 38
👍 Bokeh 22
🤔 Autofocus performance 18
👎 Build quality 15
👍 Low light performance 12

Scores

Video Cinema
Panasonic
98
Canon
53
Landscape
Panasonic
95
Canon
39
Professional
Panasonic
92
Canon
45
Portrait
Panasonic
89
Canon
41
Travel
Panasonic
86
Canon
57
Budget
Panasonic
86
Canon
54
Street
Panasonic
84
Canon
55
Wildlife Sports
Panasonic
78
Canon
44
Macro
Panasonic
76
Canon
42

Specifications

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mmCanon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM 50mm
Optics
Typezoomprime
Focal Length Min12 mm50 mm
Focal Length Max35 mm50 mm
Elements146
Groups95
Aspherical Elements4★1
ED Elements1★0
CoatingNano Surface CoatingSuper Spectra coating
Aperture
Max Aperturef/2.8f/22
Min Aperturef/2.8f/1.8
Constant✓✓
Diaphragm Blades77
Build
MountMicro Four ThirdsCanon EF
Formatmicro-four-thirdsfull-frame★
Weather Sealed✓★✗
Weight0.31 kg0.16 kg★
Filter Thread58 mm49 mm
AF & Stabilization
AF TypeAutofocusSTM★
Stabilization✓★✗
Stabilization Stops5 stops7 stops★
Focus
Min Focus Distance150 mm★350 mm
Max Magnification0.21x0.21x

Pros & Cons

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

  • Strong stabilization (96th percentile)96th %ile
  • Strong user sentiment (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
  • Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
  • Strong bokeh (87th percentile)87th %ile

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM 50mm

  • Strong social proof (94th percentile)94th %ile
  • Strong build (88th percentile)88th %ile
  • Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
  • Below average bokeh (14th percentile)14th %ile
  • Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
  • Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
  • Below average stabilization (34th percentile)

Pricing

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

No current pricing available

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM 50mm

Verdict

★ Winner: Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm

Scores 96 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 5 of 22 specs.

Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12035 12-35mm Better at:

MacroBudgetStreetTravelPortraitLandscapeProfessionalVideo CinemaWildlife Sports

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